RSEA.D. Acts 7

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R-SEA.D.
  • Reading of the Torah, Prophets, Apostolic aloud together (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)
  • Summary for context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)
  • Exhortation for counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15; 2 Timothy 3:16)
  • Application for living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13; James 1:22)
  • Discussion for questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

  1. Apostolic (A): Acts 7:1-60
  2. Torah (T): Genesis 11:31; Genesis 12:1-7; Genesis 13:15; Genesis 23:4; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 28:4; Genesis 15:13-16; Exodus 12:40; Exodus 3:2-12; Genesis 17:10-11; Genesis 21:2; Genesis 25:24; Genesis 29:32; Genesis 30:5; Genesis 35:23; Genesis 37:4; Genesis 37:28; Genesis 41:40; Genesis 41:37,54; Genesis 42:1-2; Genesis 45:4,13; Genesis 46:5,27; Exodus 1:5-10,22; Deuteronomy 10:22; Genesis 49:33; Genesis 50:13; Genesis 23:16; Exodus 13:19; Exodus 2:2-15; Exodus 6:20; Numbers 26:59; Genesis 19:9; Exodus 7:1-25; Deuteronomy 18:15; Deuteronomy 18:18; Exodus 19:3; Exodus 32:1; Exodus 25:40; Exodus 26:30; Deuteronomy 17:1-7
  3. Prophets (P): Psalms 105:17-24; Joshua 24:32; 1 Chronicles 23:13; 1 Samuel 2:27; 1 Kings 18:36; Joshua 5:15; Amos 5:25-27; Joshua 3:14; 1 Samuel 16:1,13; 2 Samuel 7:2; 1 Chronicles 17:1; Psalms 89:20; Psalms 132:5; 1 Kings 6:1; 1 Chronicles 17:12; 1 Kings 8:27; Isaiah 66:1-2; 2 Chronicles 6:18,33; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Psalms 31:5; 1 Kings 21:13

Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. στέφανος stephanos (G4735) means “crown” in Hellenistic culture, this was the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games.
    1. Stephen was a Hellenistic Jew and chosen as one of the first 7 ever deacons among the first century followers of Yeshua.
      1. διακονία diakonia (G1248) service or ministering, especially of those who execute the commands of others
      2. These deacons were to serve and minister to the widows of the Hellenist believers because they were neglected in the daily service. This neglect could have been due to cultural or language differences.
        1. 1 Timothy 5:3-16; Honor widows who are widows indeed. 4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety toward their own family and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. 5 Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives. 7 Also command these things, that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let no one be enrolled as a widow under sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 being approved by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has been hospitable to strangers, if she has washed the holy ones’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, and if she has diligently followed every good work. 11 But refuse younger widows, for when they have grown wanton against Messiah, they desire to marry, 12 having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge. 13 Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting. 15 For already some have turned away after Satan. 16 If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don’t let the assembly be burdened, that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.
    2. According to Acts 6, Stephen was a man full of faith, the Holy Spirit, grace, and power (Acts 6:3,8). He performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8)
      1. Act 6:1-6; Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 So the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” 5 And these words pleased the whole gathering. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
      2. Acts 6:7-15; The word of God increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly.
        1. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
          1. Acts 23:7-8; “When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess all of these.”
            1. “Most Sadducees were priests, but not all priests belonged to this sect. Sadducees were closely connected to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish governing council in Jerusalem, consisted predominantly of Sadducees. Sadducees believed only the Torah was sacred.“
        2. 8 Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines,” and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10 They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, 13 and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the Law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Yeshua the Nazorean will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
      3. Act 7:1-60; The high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen…
        1. Abraham The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ 4 Then he came out of the land of the Kasdim, and lived in Haran. From there, after his father died, he moved him into this land, where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him, when he still had no child. 6 But God spoke in this way, ‘His descendants will live as strangers in a foreign land, and that they will be slaves and mistreated, for four hundred years. 7 But I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.’
        2. Isaac 8 He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day.
        3. Jacob and the 12 Patriarchs Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
        4. Joseph 9 “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt; and God was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13 On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh.
        5. Jacob + 75 Souls Reunite with Joseph 14 Then Joseph sent, and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 15 Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, himself and our fathers, 16 and they were brought back to Shechem, and placed in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor in Shechem. 17 “But as the time of the promise came close which God had made to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
        6. The (Canaanite) King of Egypt 18 until ‘there arose a different king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.’ 19 The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they would not stay alive.
        7. Moses 20 At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. 21 When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son. 22 Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. 23 But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. 24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they did not understand. 26 “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
        8. The Angel in the Bush 30 “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came, 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.’ Moses trembled, and dared not look. 33 The Lord said to him, ‘Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.’ 35 “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is that Moses, who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’
        9. The Church in the Wilderness 38 This is he who was in the assembly (ekklesia G1577) in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received words of life to give to us,
        10. The Church Rejects YHWH 39 to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned, and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you offer to me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship them. Therefore I will exile you beyond Babylon.’
        11. Joshua and the Promised Land to David 44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45 which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.
        12. Solomon 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, 49 ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?’ says YHWH; ‘or what is the place of my rest? 50 Did not my hand make all these things?’ (cf. Isaiah 66:1-2)
        13. Stephen’s Rebuke
          1. 51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
            1. Matthew 23:34-39; Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of YHWH!’ ” (cf. Psalms 118:26)
          2. 53 You received the Torah as it was ordained by angels, and did not keep it.”
            1. Galatians 3:19; Then why is there the Torah? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
        14. Stephen’s Murder
          1. 54 Now when they heard these things, they were furious, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Yeshua standing on the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Look, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they shouted out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. 58 They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Sha’ul. 59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit.” 60 He kneeled down, and shouted out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
            1. “Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit.”
              1. When a person dies, their spirit returns to God, their soul goes down to Sheol, and their flesh returns to dust (cf. Psalms 16:10; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Genesis 3:19; Acts 2:31)
            2. The sin
              1. Exodus 20:16 and Deuteronomy 5:20; “Do not give false witness against your neighbor.”
              2. Deuteronomy 19:16-21; If an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing, 17 then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days; 18 and the judges shall make diligent inquisition; and behold, if the witness is a false witness, and has witnessed falsely against his brother, 19 then you shall do to him as he had thought to do to his brother. So you shall remove the evil from among you. 20 Those who remain shall hear, and fear, and will never again commit any such evil among you. 21 Your eyes shall not pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
              3. John 8:37-41; “I know that you are Abraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you. 38 I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.” 39 They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.” Yeshua said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham didn’t do this. 41 You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, God.” 42 Therefore Yeshua said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from God. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of God.”

Exhortation
Counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15)

  1. What is a martyr?
    1. A person who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. “In an ethical sense, those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death” – Thayer’s Greek Lexicon
    2. Old English martir, via ecclesiastical Latin from Greek martur ‘witness’
  2. Where did the notion that martyrs must die a violent death to achieve this high rank?
    1. Revelation 20:4-6; I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Yeshua and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah, and will reign with him one thousand years.
  3. All followers of Yeshua the Messiah are to be martyrs
    1. μάρτυς martys (G3144) simply means to be a witness who can provide a testimony as evidence of something they have seen (cf. Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6-7; Deuteronomy 19:15). μάρτυς martys is equivalent to the Hebrew word עֵד ed (H5707) where being a false witness is a crime punishable by death (cf. Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Deuteronomy 19:16-21)
      1. Isaiah 43:10; “You are my witnesses,” says YHWH, “With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he. Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me.
      2. Isaiah 43:12; I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown, and there was no strange god among you. Therefore you are my witnesses”, says YHWH, “and I am God.
      3. Isaiah 44:8; Don’t fear, neither be afraid. Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock.”
      4. Acts 1:8; “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
    2. μαρτυρία martyria (G3141) is a testimony as evidence of something one has witnessed (cf. Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20; Psalms 19:7; Proverbs 12:19; Proverbs 25:18; Mark 14:55-56; Revelation 12:17; Revelation 20:4)
      1. Mark 14:55-56; Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Yeshua to put him to death, and found none. 56 For many gave false testimony (pseudomartyreō G5576) against him, and their testimony didn’t agree with each other.
      2. Revelation 12:17; The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep God’s commandments and hold Yeshua’s testimony.
      3. Revelation 19:10; I (John) fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers who hold the testimony of Yeshua. Worship God, for the testimony of Yeshua is the Spirit of Prophecy.

Does anyone have specific questions or need any clarification from what was said during the Summary or Exhortation?

Application & Discussion
Living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13)
Questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

    1. What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
    2. What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?
    3. Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
    4. What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s study?